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History of Antigua and Barbuda
From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Antigua and Barbuda.
Overview
Antigua was first inhabited by the Siboney ("stone people") whose settlements date at least to 2400 BC. The Arawaks--who originated in Venezuela and gradually migrated up the chain of islands now called the Lesser Antilles--succeeded the Siboney. The warlike Carib people drove the Arawaks from neighboring islands but apparently did not settle on either Antigua or Barbuda. Christopher Columbus landed on the islands in 1493, naming the larger one "Santa Maria de la Antigua.
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Historical Eras
The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.
Pre-Columbian Era
2400 BCE – 1493
The Siboney were the earliest known inhabitants of Antigua and Barbuda, with settlements dating to around 2400 BC. They were succeeded by the Arawak people, who migrated northward from Venezuela through the Lesser Antilles. The warlike Carib later displaced Arawaks on surrounding islands, though Antigua and Barbuda appear to have remained largely Arawak-inhabited at the time of European contact.
Colonial Plantation Era
1493 – 1834
Christopher Columbus sighted the islands in 1493, and England formally colonized Antigua in 1632, with possession confirmed by the Treaty of Breda in 1667. Sir Christopher Codrington established the first major sugar estate in 1674 and leased Barbuda in 1685 as a provisioning ground, bringing enslaved Africans to work the plantations. Sugar cultivation dominated the economy and society for nearly two centuries, sustained entirely by enslaved labor.
Post-Emancipation Period
1834 – 1941
Slavery was abolished in 1834, but freed Antiguans remained economically constrained by scarce land, lack of credit, and an agricultural economy that offered few alternatives to plantation labor. Barbuda reverted to direct British Crown control in 1860, and both islands were administered within the Leeward Islands federation from 1871 to 1956. Conditions changed little until a 1939 royal commission spurred the formation of a labor union movement, marking the beginning of organized political consciousness.
Labour & Self-Governance
1941 – 1981
The Antigua Trades and Labour Union, founded in the early 1940s, became the political vehicle for Vere Cornwall Bird, who transformed it into the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) in 1946. The ALP became the majority party by 1951, steering the islands toward greater autonomy. Antigua and Barbuda achieved associated statehood with full internal self-government in 1967, setting the stage for full independence.
Independence & Modern Era
1981 – present
Antigua and Barbuda became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth on November 1, 1981, with Vere Bird serving as the first Prime Minister. The ALP dominated national politics for decades, succeeded briefly by the United Progressive Party following its 2004 electoral victory. The modern era has been shaped by the transition from sugar agriculture to a tourism-based economy, along with ongoing challenges of hurricane vulnerability, economic diversification, and regional integration.
Timeline Preview
The first 7 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.
35
Occupation of island by Arawak Indians.
Occupation of island by Arawak Indians.
1100
Overthrow of the island by Carib Indians.
Overthrow of the island by Carib Indians.
1493
Discovered by Christopher Columbus.
Discovered by Christopher Columbus.
1632
Antigua claimed for Great Britain.
Antigua claimed for Great Britain.
1667
Treaty of Breda
France formally ends its claim to Antigua in accordance with the Treaty of Breda.
1674
sugar plantation in Antigua
Christopher Codrington, a sugar planter from Barbados, sets up a sugar plantation in Antigua.
1685
Codrington leases the island of Barbuda from the British crown
Codrington leases the island of Barbuda from the British crown; African slaves imported to grow first tobacco and then sugarcane on plantations.